Request for Proposals (RFP) for Challenge-Based Acquisition (ChBA) for Interim Hydrogen Fueling Solution

Fresno Area Express (FAX), the transit authority for Fresno County and the City of Fresno, is requesting proposals for professional services to design, deploy, and operate an interim hydrogen refueling solution to support six fuel cell electric buses, with proposals due November 13, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and a pre-proposal meeting on October 22 at 10:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.

The scope addresses FAX's operational need to eliminate daily 25-mile transport of FCEBs to an off-site fueling location by establishing on-site refueling capability at the bus depot at 2223 G Street, Fresno, California. The solution must enable refueling within 10 minutes, achieve full operational status within 120 days of notice to proceed, and provide emergency deployment capability within Fresno County. Equipment must comply with California Code Regulations for hydrogen fuel standards, NFPA 2 fire safety requirements, and SAE International standards for H35-rated hydrogen dispensers. FAX requires full equipment ownership with the contractor responsible for operations, maintenance, site security, vandalism prevention, and theft liability. Proposals should address potential public retail fueling with point-of-sale capability, carbon credit generation and management under California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, and grant partnership opportunities.

The initial project budget is $1.28 million with no federal funding. The contract is structured as firm fixed-price with an initial two-year term renewable for up to three additional one-year terms, followed by potential month-to-month continuation not to exceed twelve months. Liquidated damages are assessed at $500 per day for delivery delays. Award is subject to City Council approval for contracts exceeding $100,000. No DBE contract goals or local preference requirements apply. The Selection Committee will evaluate proposals on solution quality, firm qualifications and experience, cost reasonableness, and references. Questions should be directed to Sharlee Flores, Fresno Area Express, 559-621-1481 or Sharlee.Flores@Fresno.gov. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Planet Bids.